Burnley have announced the departure of their manager, Brian Laws, who has left the club with immediate effect.

"I have telephoned Brian today and have asked him to step down as manager of Burnley Football Club," said the Burnley chairman, Barry Kilby, on the club's website. "Everyone is naturally disappointed and frustrated that recent results have not gone as we would have hoped.

"The board of directors have therefore decided that we need a fresh approach in order to achieve our goal of returning to the Premier League."

Laws took over at Turf Moor in January 2010, following the departure of Owen Coyle to Bolton Wanderers. The club were relegated from the Premier League last season and currently sit ninth in the Championship, two points adrift of the play-offs, although they endured a dismal defeat to Scunthorpe earlier this week.